President explains late statement on Kintampo and tragic death of Ekumfi

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Parliament explained why it paid tribute to the victims of the New Zealand tragedy, but not to the victims of a fatal road accident in Ghana that caused the death of at least 64 people.

The Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye, said it was because the MP charged to make a statement was not in the House.

Parliament observed Monday a minute of silence for the victims of two tragedies that caught the world's attention.

An armed man shot dead 50 Muslims in a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, while Southern Africa, a cyclone in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi, killed more than 750 people.

The tragedies occurred on March 14 and 15, 2019, respectively.

Here at home, road carnage on the Kintampo-Techiman road in the Bono Est region last Friday killed at least 59 people. Another road accident in Ekumfi, central region, the same day, left nine dead.

MP for Offinso South MP Ben Abdallah Banda made a statement on the New Zealand tragedy, while NDC MP for North Tongu Okudzeto Ablakwa made a statement on the disaster in southern Africa.

There has been no statement on Kintampo's and Ekumfi's road carnage, which would have prompted criticism on social media. "We had good reasons," said the Speaker of Parliament in the House on Tuesday.

The deputy from Kintampo Sud in the constituency whose tragedy occurred was instructed to make a statement yesterday, he said. A copy of the votes and debates showed that Kintampo-Sud MP Felicia Adjei was present.

The President explained that the MP should be "out of Parliament" at the scene of the tragedy.

Although Kintampo has two deputies – Kintampo North and South, the leadership of parliament had agreed that Felicia Adjei was best placed for the declaration, said Professor Oquaye.

The President said that Parliament was "very, very concerned about such issues".

MP Felicia Adjei spoke to make a statement in which she explained that badfeeding mothers and children were among the 35 people who had been burned without any recognition.

She called for greater involvement of law enforcement and a crackdown on the roads of Ghana.